Knights humble Cascade Christian in semifinals, face SCAC rivals in title game

TACOMA - The Royal Knights' season of perfection was tainted on the night of Sept. 21, and they haven't forgotten about it.

On that fateful Friday evening at Royal's David Nielsen Memorial Field, the top-ranked Connell Eagles scratched out a 23-20 victory over the second-ranked Knights.

Since then, Royal has won 10 straight contests, including last Friday's 43-14 destruction of the Cascade Christian Cougars in a 1A state semifinal contest at the Tacoma Dome.

The Knights (13-1) have been nothing short of dominant in their four playoff victories, outscoring Goldendale, Lakeside-Nine Mile Falls, Cascade-Leavenworth and Cascade Christian by a combined total of 192-29.

This Saturday at 1 p.m., Royal will get a chance to avenge its loss to Connell, a 51-14 victor over Montesano in the other semifinal. But the teams won't be playing for the South Central Athletic Conference East Division title - they'll be playing for the state championship trophy at the Tacoma Dome.

Royal continued its strong play in all aspects of the game against previously unbeaten Cascade Christian. Offensively, the Knights got big games from quarterback Austin Allred, tailback Hector Ledezma and their entire line. The defense forced two turnovers and limited the Cougars' star back, Charlie Velling, to 58 yards on 14 carries. Even the special teams got into the act, as Blair Collins burned the Cougars for a 79-yard punt return touchdown in the first quarter and Cash Brown added a 57-yard kickoff return for the game's final points.

Perhaps the only blemishes were the Knights' four turnovers, though none of them resulted in points for Cascade Christian.

Allred, the team's senior quarterback whose strength this season has been game management, had another efficient outing. He completed 13 of 20 throws for 111 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed 10 times for 118 yards and two scores.

Ledezma, Royal's first-team all-conference tailback, punished the Cougars (12-1) with 173 yards on 23 carries. He also caught a pair of passes for 34 yards and a score.

After Collins put the Knights up with his punt return, Allred scored on an 11-yard run to give Royal a 14-0 advantage going to the second quarter. Royal upped its lead to 22-0 when Allred and Ledezma hooked up on a 23-yard pass on the final play of the half.

Allred's 38-yard scamper and Jacob Christensen's 2-yard reception gave the Knights a 36-7 lead after three quarters.

Royal will be looking for its fifth state title in 12 seasons on Saturday. Their last trip to the championship game two years ago ended with a 34-14 triumph over the Tonasket Tigers.